Seattle is how expensive? Very expensive, says cost-of-living site

By VANESSA HO, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Published 6:46 pm, Thursday, January 16, 2014

This slideshow is a list of the 25 most expensive cities in the United States, as ranked by cost-of-living site Expatistan. It starts at No. 25 with San Jose, where a dozen eggs cost $3.11, and a nice, furnished apartment goes for $1,505, says the site's users.

21. Detroit. Detroit? Where housing is cheap? Obviously, Expatistan's cost-of-living gauge is a little skewed, because it includes prices for an iPod nano and Coke, but excludes college tuition and health care. So think if it as a mere glimpse into a city's economic soul.

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21. Detroit. Detroit? Where housing is cheap? Obviously,...

20. Denver

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20. Denver

19. Dallas

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19. Dallas

18. Baltimore: Rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,293. Price for a quart of milk: $1.60.

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18. Baltimore: Rent for a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,293....

17. Houston

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17. Houston

16. Atlanta

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16. Atlanta

15. Pittsburgh

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15. Pittsburgh

14. Chicago: Expatistan says gas here is about $4.08 a gallon.

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14. Chicago: Expatistan says gas here is about $4.08 a gallon.

13. San Diego

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13. San Diego

12. Portland, Ore.: How expensive is the City of Roses? Expatistan says a good bottle of red wine costs $16, two pounds of apples go for $3.79, and a dozen eggs are $2.86.

Photo: Getty Images

12. Portland, Ore.: How expensive is the City of Roses? Expatistan...

11. Sacramento

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, ASSOCIATED PRESS

11. Sacramento

10. Oklahoma City

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10. Oklahoma City

9. Los Angeles: A "daily menu in the business district" (whatever that is) costs $16 in this Southern California city. A "summer dress" from a chain store like Zara or H&M costs $51 here.

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9. Los Angeles: A "daily menu in the business district" (whatever...

8. Buffalo, NY

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8. Buffalo, NY

7. Seattle: Seattle is the seventh most expensive city in America, says Expatistan. Worldwide, Seattle outranks cities like Shanghai, Milan, Madrid and Dubai for cost of living, making it the 44th most expensive city in the world. A sampling of Expatistan's Seattle prices:

Dozen eggs: $2.42Pound of local cheese: $7Rent for nice, one-bedroom apartment (900 sf): $2,185Pair of Levi 501s: $45Men's haircut in "expat area of city": $21Dinner for two at Italian restaurant with wine and dessert: $79

Photo: JORDAN STEAD, SEATTLEPI.COM

7. Seattle: Seattle is the seventh most expensive city in America,...

6. Philadelphia

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6. Philadelphia

5. Boston

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5. Boston

4. Washington, D.C.

Photo: Ron Edmonds, ASSOCIATED PRESS

4. Washington, D.C.

3. Honolulu: It costs a lot of money to live in paradise.

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3. Honolulu: It costs a lot of money to live in paradise.

2. San Francisco: The City by the Bay is 26 percent more expensive than Seattle, says Expatistan.

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2. San Francisco: The City by the Bay is 26 percent more expensive...

1. New York City: A nice, one-bedroom apartment here averages $4,078 in Expatistan's most expensive city in America. New York is also the site's fifth priciest city in the world.

But what about the world's most expensive city? That would be …
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1. New York City: A nice, one-bedroom apartment here averages...

...London. A furnished, 900-square-foot apartment here costs $4,345, says Expatistan. A dozen eggs are $4.54. And two tickets to a movie? That will set you back $37 in the site's most expensive city in the world.